Owner and founder Rebecca Gengler of More Polish Potteries shows off some of her wares at the United Methodist Church Craft Show.

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(Doug Oleson - doleson@shawmedia.com)

Monica Block helps her 9-year-old daughter Jordyn set up their Dracula pumpkin on the courthouse lawn. Jordyn said it took her about four days of working after school to complete her pumpkin. "Waiting for the paint to dry took the longest," Monica said.

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(Curtis Clegg - cclegg@shawmedia.com)

Staff and volunteers from the Sycamore Public Library rode bicycles and wore top hats in honor of Wally "Mr. Pumpkin" Thurow in the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Parade. The team won second place in the organization category.

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(Curtis Clegg - cclegg@shawmedia.com)

Jupiter Clancy, 9, of Naperville comes up for a breath after winning first place in the 6-10 age bracket of the pie eating contest.

Pam Brown of DeKalb feeds her 10-month-old daughter, Caitlyn, a piece of cake at the festival kickoff ceremony.

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(Doug Oleson - doleson@shawmedia.com)

Pirate Lady Amy Shipman, left, hands out candy to eager trick or treaters in front of Stomp in downtown Sycamore.

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(Doug Oleson - doleson@shawmedia.com)

Pumpkin Festival Recording Secretary Jennifer Diehl helps Hannah Schramm cut the cake to kick off the Pumpkin Festival. Hannah, a fifth grader at St. Mary's School in Sycamore, came up with this year's theme, "Happiness is the Perfect Pumpkin." The cake was donated by Browns County Market.

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(Curtis Clegg - cclegg@shawmedia.com)

Larry Zevnik, head of adult services at Sycamore Public Library, tells a ghost story at Elmwood Cemetery in Sycamore.

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(Doug Oleson - doleson@shawmedia.com)

Kaitlyn Berntsen (left) and Emma Doering, both 10, decided to go with a superhero theme for their pumpkins and costumes, opting for Batman and the Riddler.